Oregon Police Seek Help Identifying Woman Found with Distinctive Jewelry

The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office in Oregon are asking the public for help identifying a woman who was found dead in the Willamette River near Swan Island. The woman, who officials say appears to be white and between the ages of 50 and 60, was discovered badly decomposed on May 31, 2009 by boaters on the river. Authorities hope several distinct features about the woman, including the large amount of jewelry found with her body and her extensive dental work, will help identify her.

The woman’s DNA profile, dental information and X-rays have been uploaded into the National Missing and Unidentified Persons (NamUs) system but a match is yet to be found. Investigators say the woman was about 5-feet-3-inches tall, weighed about 160 pounds and had curly, graying brown hair tied in a 12-inch braid down her back and secured with a turquoise elastic band.

Oregon State Police provided a list of the jewelry found on the woman’s body and where each piece was located. The list is as follows:

Right ring finger: gold ring with red middle stone, either Marquise-cut or pear-cut

The woman also had extensive dental work including upper and lower removable partial dentures and multiple fillings in her natural teeth. She was wearing a baby blue hooded sweatshirt with white trim and a kangaroo pocket, and a lace-top “Exclusive”-brand size 46DD bra.

Police say anyone who recognizes this description can call the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office tip line at 503-988-0560 or send an email to case investigator Sgt. Lee Gosson at lee.gosson@mcso.us.

The woman is classified as Unidentified Person #5319 on the NamUs website where more information can be found about her case.